German Beer

Germany is a proud brewing country. The Reinheitsgebot, commonly known as the German Purity law, has enshrined the notion of quality above all else. This essentially means that all traditional German beer is brewed without additives using four base beer ingredients – hops, malt, water and yeast. Yet using just these four ingredients (and some wheat sometimes of course) they have made some of the best beer in the world. While the Germans themselves are obsessed with wheat beer, Germany is still regarded as the home of lager and is yet to be beaten for taste in this widely imitated style. Except maybe by the Czechs. Each area of Germany has its own take, from the dry and bitter northern German beers like Jever, to the more balanced bready and lemony beers of Bavaria like Paulaner and Augustiner. Oktoberfest of course is its own unique thing. As beer festival with one beer, it is more of a celebration of drinking and remains unpretentious and fun to this day. German beer is made to be quaffable, sociable and delicious with food, but all the while maintaining standards that make it the envy of lager brewers the world over.